NEWSLETTER
Slowly, the Chicago Cubs are making up all those missed games from the beginning of the season, and today’s the latest. Assuming the weather holds out.
Jose Quintana will take the ball in this makeup affair, and although he’s leapfrogging Yu Darvish in the rotation, he’s still working on regular rest thanks to the off day. Quintana has had an uneven start to the 2018 season, but was very good his last time out, allowing just one earned run on two walks and five hits over six innings. It was only his third quality start of the year, so let’s hope he has another one in him today.
Starting opposite Quintana is one of my favorite pitchers to follow, Julio Teheran. Teheran has not allowed an earned run in either of his past two starts (13.0 total innings) and has allowed just four earned runs in his past five games (23.0 IP). He’s also walked just eight while striking out 21 during that stretch, so he’s been pretty good. On the bright side, he has given up more than his fair share of fly balls this season, so the Cubs would be well-served continuing to elevate the ball and trying to slug their way to a victory this afternoon with the wind (currently) blowing out.
For his career, Teheran has had some pretty clear lefty/right splits, but those differences have been far less notable this season. Still, lefties should have the advantage, and the Cubs have loaded up with them.
The Braves are running Jose Bautista out there at third, so … bunt? Can he still handle the position? Might be fun to find out.
Let’s see if the Cubs can “win” this series from earlier in the year with a win today. Because the rainout from before was on Jackie Robinson Day, this will be the game where the Cubs and Braves honor Robinson.
Game Info
Atlanta Braves (24-15) at Chicago Cubs (21-16) – 1:20 CT on WGN, MLBN (out-of-market only), 670 The Score
Game Thread and Series Preview
Your game thread is down in the comments, so let’s have some good, clean (safe-for-work) fun today.
Starting Pitchers
Cubs: Jose Quintana (L): 4.42 ERA, 4.29 FIP; 1.78 K/BB
versus
Braves: Julio Teheran (R):Â 3.14 ERA, 4.33 FIP; 2.33 K/BB
Atlanta Braves Lineup:
- Ozzie Albies, 2B
- Ronald Acuña, LF
- Freddie Freeman, 1B
- Nick Markakis, RF
- Tyler Flowers, C
- Ender Inciarte, CF
- Jose Bautista, 3B
- Charlie Culberson, SS
- Julio Teheran, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup:
- Tommy La Stella, 2B
- Kris Bryant, 3B
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Ben Zobrist, RF
- Javy Baez, SS
- Victor Caratini, C
- Kyle Schwarber, LF
- Albert Almora, CF
- Jose Quintana, P
